Interview: Magdaleena Nikolov, Director of Spa at Fairmont Century Plaza, Shares Top Wellness Trends and Tips

Fairmont Century Plaza, photo courtesy of Fairmont Century Plaza.

This year, Fairmont Century Plaza has been a much anticipated Los Angeles hotel opening—the iconic hotel received a transformation by international design firm Yabu Pushelberg, featuring 400 luxury guest rooms. The hotel’s opening will also usher in a new era of holistic wellness with a 14,000-square-foot luxury spa. The spa will offer state-of-the-art facilities and innovative guest experiences under the wellness leadership of Magdaleena Nikolov, who has over 12 years of spa experience and has worked at several iconic luxury resorts and spas. We caught up with Nikolov to chat about the latest in wellness and the new destination.

Magdaleena Nikolov, Director of Spa at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California, photo courtesy of Magdaleena Nikolov.

We’re excited about the Fairmont Century Plaza’s upcoming opening. Can you share some insider tips to help visitors get the most out of their visit to the hotel or spa? 

My number one tip would be to give yourself enough time. Throughout the hotel there are so many beautifully designed spaces to see and relax in. If you are really looking for a unique and exclusive experience, be sure to book Fairmont Gold! As for the spa, you will definitely want to give yourself time to truly relax and try all of the amenities.  

What are some of the must-try or unique spa experiences that guests can look forward to at the Spa at Fairmont Century Plaza? 

This is a tough one as so much has gone into developing each treatment, but if I had to say it would be our signature treatment Sunset, which is a unique full-body experience with signature scents and oils used in a curated sequence of ancient modalities to bring you to a true moment of pause. Another experience that I’m very excited to launch will be our bio-hacking treatments that will address sleep, stress, and mindfulness using various techniques and technologies to help you address these concerns. 

2020 was quite an unusual year. What was your favorite wellness discovery?

My favorite new wellness discovery is hands down Nucalm. Nucalm is a patented neuroscience technology clinically proven to resolve stress and improve sleep quality. This has been such a game changer for me as I have seen my stress levels decrease, a huge improvement in my ability to focus, and ability to get a good night’s sleep.  

What skincare ingredients should be on our radar for 2021? 

Tetra-C, the only form of vitamin C that has been proven to penetrate the epidermis and dermis to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and increases collagen. I only discovered this from using Haute C by LILFOX which uses 15% Tetra-C and I was blown away by the results!  

Any product lines we should have on our radar? 

LILFOX and Dr. Levy. 

LILFOX Chill Wands, photo courtesy of LILFOX.

Any innovative new treatments or tools that we should watch out for or try? 

A new fun tool that I am totally addicted to are the LILFOX  Cryo + Thermo Chill Wands. I like to use these over a mask or directly on the skin with a bit of oil and particularly with one wand very cold and the other one warm. The contrast in temperature is so invigorating to the skin. It instantly removes any puffiness, tightens my skin, and leaves me with a beautiful rosy glow after, plus it feels amazing!

When it comes to holistic wellness, what are some of the most popular trends you are seeing? 

Some of the most popular trends are all about self-care and mental wellness. Whether it is better sleep, less stress or anxiety support, there is so much more focus and the ability to openly talk about the effects these things have an our overall health and life longevity. The innovations that have come out to support self-care and holistic wellness has been incredible. Technology like Nucalm for stress and sleep, Oura rings to track what is happening in our bodies, and at-home percussion massage tools such as Hypervolt have made a huge impact in giving people easily accessible ways to make an impact on their daily lives and health. 

LILFOX Chlorophyll + Tourmaline Brightening Mask, photo courtesy of LILFOX.

For those who are not currently able to visit a spa, do you have a favorite DIY tip for at-home pampering, relaxation or skin care? 

Bathing, bathing, and some more bathing!  This has been my go-to at home as it actually offers all of this and more. I select a face mask first, which lately has been my cholorophyll-tourmoline by LILfox. I love the dark green rich color and ingredients, it feels like true nutrition for my skin. I prepare my bath with my LILFOX Gypsy body wash for some bubbles and a few drops of the essential oil. Just the aroma alone already makes me feel better already. I also like to add a body scrub or a hair mask and just layer on the pampering. Pop on some relaxing tunes and enjoy…just remember, no cell phones!

What should spa enthusiasts know about what to expect at a spa visit in 2021? What type of changes will they see and what do you want people to know about the guest experience post-2020?

I feel there will be a few things to be expected for a 2021 visit to the spa. Firstly, you may notice that your booking, checking-in, and checking-out process has gone fully digital and touchless. There will be a focus on more bespoke treatments in private areas such as outdoor rooms or private suites. The future of shared spaces will also evolve allowing for more personal time and less shared amenities. Our goal for the spa experience will be to instill a sense of community while offering effective treatments in a relaxing safe space. We view everyone as an individual and plan to offer each guest an option wherever they may be in their spa and wellness journey.

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy